Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Daryus Quarles scored 17 points and Carl Jones added 16 as host Saint Joseph's escaped with a 70-65 win over Norfolk State in the teams' first game in the Philly Hoop Group Classic on Saturday afternoon at Hagan Arena.

Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) had 23 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Spartans (1-2).

The Spartans controlled much of the first 10 minutes and held a 16-12 lead midway through the first half after a 3-pointer by freshman guard and Philly native Pendarvis Williams, making his first career start. But the Hawks (1-2) outscored NSU 16-8 over the final 10 minutes of the half to take a 28-24 lead into the intermission.

NSU forged three ties in the second half, the last coming after a dunk by Williams with 11:27 left in the game. But the Hawks retook a lead they would not relinquish on a layup by Todd O'Brien.

NSU had a chance to make it interesting in the final two minutes after Aleek Pauline (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) made a free throw with 1:51 left to bring the Spartans within 58-54. But SJU got three shots at the basket on the next possession, eventually scoring on Idris Hilliard's tip-in to take a six-point edge.

The Hawks then went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final minute, with Jones hitting 8-of-8, to put the game away.

The biggest statistical discrepancy came at the foul line, where the Hawks made 22-of-27 (81.5 percent) compared to NSU's 10-of-17 (58.8 percent). The Spartans shot 43 percent from the floor compared to SJU's 38 percent, and the Hawks outrebounded NSU by just one, 37-36.

Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.) scored 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting for the Spartans. Williams added 10 points and four assists without turning the ball over.

NSU's next game in the Classic is Tuesday at Rutgers. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J.